Everyone knows Rosa Parks as the quiet, humble woman who refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus nearly 60 years ago. She is eternally personified as the gentle saint responsible for a revolution.

What many people don't know is that Parks was so much more than one occupied bus seat. A profile by Danielle McGuire reveals that Parks had a history of outspoken activism, and dedicated much of her life to fighting sexism and brutality.

In 1943, Parks was elected secretary of the NAACP's Montgomery branch. During her time in this position, Parks was responsible for the documentation and investigation of sexual crimes. The following year, she played an integral role in the organization of the "Committee For Equal Justice for Mrs. Recy Taylor," a Alabama woman who had been attacked and raped.

Parks was also known for the passionate speeches she shared at rallies and gatherings. This intensity is immortalized in a recently-discovered essay that encapsulates her desire to end the abuse of black women everywhere. A slightly different picture than the silent woman on the bus, isn't it?

That isn't to say her act of defiance on that December day should be forgotten or downplayed. But there are many other dimensions to this brave and inspiring woman that should be remembered for their very real impact.